The Kingdom of Burning Ice

She was lost

Frostine

“Where are you going?”

I squeezed my eyes shut at the question that was directed at me in that thick voice and turned around to face the man. I meant, the king. Yes, he was the King. But now seeing him as he was, I couldn’t not think about him as the man he was. With midnight blue breeches and white shirt that hung unbuttoned, displaying the hard muscles of his chest, all I could focus on was one simple fact that he was all kinds of opposite of me. Where I was soft, he was hard. Where I was small, he was so tall. Where I hid behind my get up, he had nothing to hide and instead showed it off.

“Yes, your highness?” I murmured, keeping my gaze down.

“What did I say about looking at me when I talk to you?” I instantly lifted my gaze up to his and wished that I hadn’t. Now he stood without a shirt, his yellow brown eyes fixed on me. “Did you check up on Rahat?” He asked.

I nodded. “Yes, your highness.”

Rahat was the one who had woken me up in the morning, earlier than I usually do. Making sure that I wouldn’t be late for my duty to the king. After making sure that he took his medicines and that he had whatever he needed, I had made my way to the King’s suite. Thankfully, the King was ready for his morning ride and his morning rounds about the Kingdom and he hadn’t needed my help. He had only ordered me to tidy up his rooms and make sure that his bath was ready. I had been too happy to be left alone. And I might’ve even dozed off a little on the chaise, the same one I had used the first day I had come here. But thankfully I had woken up in time and cleaned his room and managed to fill up his big porcelain tub with the help of Trench. At first he hadn’t recognised me and I had felt giddy as I had told him about the spell and the fake man attire. Then he had been too happy to help me out and we even drank a cup of tea in each other's company. It was a good morning despite my fear of catering to the king all alone.

And then some two or three hours later the king had come back, smelling of forest and sweat and making me dizzy with his scent. He hadn’t asked for assistance, not right away, and I was hoping to discreetly make my exit. But then he had stopped me. And now here we were.

“And?” He demanded.

I licked my lips nervously and answered, “He says he’s much better than last night. But it’d take him a few days to be back to his full strength.” And I hated the last part because it meant I’d have to look after the king for those few days.

“Hmm.” The King murmured, his hair that changed color with the light shined light blond from the morning sun. “It appears you are stuck with me.”

I swallowed hard. I didn’t want to be stuck with the king. Being close to him does something to me. I watched as he sat down on the chair in front of the fire and motioned for me to come closer. I took slow steps toward him and he gestured at his shoes. “Untie them, young one,” He ordered.

I bent down and my fingers trembled as I unlaced the knots and pulled his shoes off his feet, one by one. “Ah...” He breathed out a satisfied groan and I felt goose bumps rising on my skin as accidentally my fingers brushed his skin when I pulled his socks off too.

I shot up and took a step away from him. My brows furrowed, I looked hard at the burning fire. I wondered if a spark had jumped from it and landed on my hip where it tingles. When my eyes went to him, I saw that he was already watching me. I surreptitiously touched my hair, feeling that it still appeared short. I looked down at myself and noticed that my chest was still flat and my clothes were as manly as they could be. Then why was he looking at me in such a way, like he was seeing something he shouldn’t. “Have you had your breakfast, young one?” He asked.

I shook my head. “No, your highness.”

“Why not? Rahat takes the spare time for his bath and breakfast. Why didn’t you?” He wanted to know, his tone curious.

Because I was sleeping. I said, “I wanted to wait for you before taking care of my own needs.”

A slow smile curved his lips and I watched transfixed as hard lines of his face turned soft and he looked so very pretty. I blinked and looked away. I shouldn’t find the king pretty, I was supposed to be a man!

“You should take your meals on time, young one. Even the maids in the castle are much bigger than you and have more meat on their bones than you.”

I felt my eyes widening and my heart racing. Did he mean what I think he meant? If yes, then he’d be glad to see that I have all the meat I needed. It was just the man’s attire that hid my flaws. But why was I thinking that he’d ever know or see what I really look like? I shouldn’t want this. And why would he even be glad, I had seen the maids in the castle. Except for the old ones, all of the young maids were pretty. Not like me.

“If you allow, your highness, may I go now to have my breakfast?” I asked and waited for his answer with bated breath.

“Well... I was hoping for you to assist me in the bathroom. But as you haven’t broken your morning fast yet, you can go. I don’t want you fainting.”

I bowed. “Thank you, your highness.”

I quickly made my way out of his room, feeling like my feet were on fire. I have to search for a new job to do in the castle or I’ll go mad with the king’s effect on me.

Kenneth

I watched as the young boy hurried out of my suite. He ran like the fire of hell was after him. Something was different about this young one. For one, he was too pretty with those big stark green eyes. His lips were too soft, like begging to be... I shook my head. He was a boy. And King or not, I couldn’t even go there. But still... I could not forget what I had felt and had glimpsed last night. The moment when he had looked up at me all terrified from the floor. And then when he had almost forgotten himself and snapped at me. I had wanted to protect him. This little boy, not man yet, just eighteen years old. And I had glimpsed the soft curve of his cheek, the pink lips, the dark hair.... He had almost looked like a beautiful woman trapped in a man’s clothing. But how could that be possible, it was probably my imagination. And the spark too, it was my imagination, there could not be any other explanation for it all. But I could still feel the heat in my palm where I had touched him, wrapped my fingers around his throat.

I pushed those disturbing thoughts out of my mind and also the young boy, and focused on the new problem. The attack last night was from the same person who had tried to kill me in the past. Since my parents died and the King and queen of the Fire kingdom, it had been a thousandth attack on me. Someone desperately wanted me to die. And I could guess that because unlike before, it was the fifth attempt in a month. The last time was during my morning ride, if not for my horse, Snow, and the speed by which I was riding him the arrow would’ve hit me in the chest. It wouldn’t have killed me but surely it’d have given a chance to my attacker to steal my blood.

I walked into my bathroom and unbuttoned my breeches. My length was slightly hard but I ignored it as I stepped into the hot water. Like always my ice cold body hissed as I submerged deep into the tub full of water. I closed my eyes, tipping my head back as I thought about the meeting I’d have after lunch with my Uncle— my father’s brother— The Loyal Commander to the King— Kade Michael Anderson. He was the commander to my father and I haven’t removed him from his post, even though I could, but I didn’t find it necessary as I knew he was loyal. As much couldn’t be said about his family though. But they were my family too, so I have to tolerate them all.

Soon my worries of the attack and upcoming meeting transformed into a pair of green eyes. I focused on the vision and slowly, a figure formed. The woman was standing in the shadow of a tree, her green eyes as pure as the trees in the forest of the castle reminded me of a long lost friend. Her lips as red as roses curled up and I remembered her tinkling laugh as I had chased her in the forest. Her dark hair, long and lush, trailed behind her as she ran away. They were the same as they were when we were young. She turned and I extended my hand to catch her, only her eyes widened and she screamed as she fell backwards. I stopped in my tracks, and looked down at the forest floor, ready to pick her up, but she wasn’t there. I howled and cried for her. I called her. My adult version was ready to turn into a wolf, like my small kid version couldn’t at that time but it wouldn’t help. Nothing helps. She was lost. My princess. My best friend. My destined mate.

I closed my eyes and inhaled sharply. My eyes burned as I felt them turning icy blue as my nose flared at the faint scent. I recognised it as the one I inhaled in passing from the young boy. It was tinged with human sweat and a hint of earthy tones. But what had my senses awakening was the hint of wild orchids that I detected, that was probably his cologne. But the orchids reminded me of the gardens of the Fire Kingdom, they were her favourite. My Frostine.

I ducked down, submerging my head under water, trying to expel these insistent, unwanted thoughts about my young manservant. It was probably my need to protect the weaker ones that was emerging. I’d have to wait for this strange feeling to pass, or give someone else the order to protect the boy and keep him out of my sight. He was messing with my brain, reminding me of another pair of green eyes that I wanted no reminder of because with the reminder comes the feeling of failure. I couldn’t find her and bring her home. I couldn’t protect her. And I lost her. And that wasn’t all, I didn’t fulfil my father’s last wish regarding her.

I came out of the water and took a deep breath, feeling better when I didn’t inhale another hint of wild orchids and then I stood up and stepped out of the tub to begin a new day.

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A. Gupta